Oxford City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to address climate change, as swift numbers in the city fall.

The Oxford Swift City project, was established in 2017 when Oxford became England’s first ‘Swift City’, and aims to improve the outlook for swifts in Oxford, as well as raise local awareness of the ways that we can help them.

The decline has been reported in the 2022 survey from the Oxford Swift City project which found that there are 20 per cent fewer swift nests in Oxford City than in 2021. 

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Swifts, which are the fastest bird in level flight and are capable of reaching a top speed of 69mph, have experienced a serious decline in recent decades.

Across the UK Swift breeding population decreased by 51 per cent from 1995 to 2015.

Each year the Oxford Swift City project surveys swift nests across the city. The survey aims to identify where swifts are nesting in the city, and identify any trends in the numbers of breeding swifts.

The 2022 survey has found that there are 20 per cent fewer swift nests in Oxford City, when compared with the previous year. Overall across the city the number of swift nests decreased from 101 to 83 nests, and the number of low-flying swifts has decreased by 12 per cent overall.

Earlier this month at a council meeting, the authority reaffirmed its commitment to ecological and climate matters.

The motion recognised that:

•Nature is declining faster than at any previous time and urgent action must be taken to reverse this trend

•A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society,

•The nature and climate crises are intrinsically linked, and we cannot tackle one without taking action on the other.

In order to help the swift population, the project is encouraging residents to install swift nest boxes to give the birds alternative homes.

The team is currently working with residents in Cowley to install nest boxes in an area where the annual survey identified a cluster of swift nests in a few streets. 

The hope is that, by providing secure nests for them, this will help that colony of swifts to maintain its number and perhaps grow.

Councillor Imogen Thomas, cabinet member for zero carbon Oxford and climate justice, said: “Earlier this month Oxford City Council reaffirmed our commitment to addressing Oxford’s ecological emergency.

“Now, this most recent report on declining swift nests further highlights our need to take action to protect wildlife in our city.

“The Swift City project, which is supported by the Council, is working to help swifts thrive. Anyone can get involved by asking their neighbours, employers or landlords to install a swift box.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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